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Sunday March 20 2016

Get away this Easter for nice and special treats

You can visit Noah’s Ark Resort in Kapchorwa to experience the Sipi Falls

In Summary

EASTER FUN TIME. As Easter comes knocking, planning is important. It starts four days from now. You do not have to stay in the city hustle. Edgar R. Batte has compiled for you getaways with special Easter offers in calm and serene environs.

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By Edgar R. Batte

Just plan today. Do not wait for the last minute to plan how to spend your Easter holiday. We bring you the different places out of town where you can unwind this holiday.

Brovad Sands LodgeBrovad Sands Lodge in Ssesse Islands is offering lovers something special. A couple can take a maximum of three days away, basically check in on Good Friday, spend Holy Saturday there, Easter Day itself and check out on Easter Monday, and for this, it will part with $150 (about Shs500,000) per night.

The rate is inclusive of accommodation for two, full continental breakfast, Easter lunch, buffet dinner, tea party, a guided forest walk, boat ride and camp fire every evening 7pm. You can get to Ssesse Islands through Nakiwogo Landing Site, in Entebbe where the MV Kalangala Ferry departs daily at 2pm. The transport charge is Shs14, 000 per individual for first class and Shs10, 000 for second class tickets. Alternatively, there is another ferry from Bukakata-Kachanga Pier in Masaka that docks at Bugoma Landing Site which is one hour’s drive to Kalangala Town.

Gately on the Nile in JinjaIf you are looking to slow life a bit this Easter season then Gately on the Nile is one of the inviting places. It fuses nature and boutique hospitality, close to the Source of the Nile. There is interplay of well-maintained lawns, tree cover and flowers. Birds find this a natural home. There is a main house and lakeside lodges. There are budget single rooms for between $50 (Shs 168,000) and $120(Shs330,000) and double rooms for between $80(Shs 268,800) and $185 (Shs630,000). Luxury rooms are a little more expensive.The proprietors of the lodge run a tour company, Gately Tours, and part of the things they recommend for you to do include walks by the River Nile, white water rafting, horseback safaris, paddle canoeing on River Nile, local fishing, and more.

Serenada Eco ResortSerenada Eco Resort is hosting and inviting family treats this Easter holiday. There are different accommodation facilities that should attract families at the resort. You can book and pay 50 per cent through Mobile Money or a bank account that is provided by the resort on their social network pages. Budget for below Shs350, 000 for full board and Shs100, 000 from Beach House in Ggaba. Meals go for Shs30, 000 for non-residents.

Igongo Cultural Centre and Country HotelHead down for a cultural Easter at Igongo Cultural Centre, in Biharwe- Mbarara, before you drive into town. You can enjoy different dishes and barbecue prepared for your indulgence and learn about Uganda’s culture as you take a tour of the museum. You can also buy a souvenir or more. If you can spend a night, you will part with Shs350, 000 for single occupancy and Shs400, 000 for double occupancy. The cultural centre is located on a highway and has 52 rooms including business suites.

Hotel Kontiki in HoimaYou can check in, have a shower and head to the swimming pool for a cool off under the hot weather, in a quiet environment. If not, there are the Victoria Gardens in which you can sip on alcohol or a soft drink as you watch over the little ones interact and play about. If the children would like to cool off, there is a toddlers’ pool for them.Horse riding is a popular activity for experienced and novice riders. For a 15-minute ride, you will part with Shs6, 000. If you would like to ride for an hour, you will pay Shs20, 000. If you cannot help it, there are screens for sports lovers. There are organised nature walks within expansive gardens; Kontiki sits on 15 acres of land.

Lake Victoria Serena Golf Resort & SpaThe Easter treats at Lake Victoria Serena Golf Resort & Spa in Lweza, off Kampala-Entebbe highway, opens at 6pm on Good Friday, with a film show about the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ at Ngamba hall. Guests will be treated to a tandoori fiesta dinner with Easter ballads played by the in-house pianist at Citadel Restaurant. This will cost you Shs60, 000 for adults and Shs40, 000 per child between five and 12 years. Holy Saturday, wake up by 6.30am to take a health walk for residents. Breakfast will be served at Citadel restaurant and then you can relax until lunch. From 3.30pm to 5pm, you will be expected to take your children to the pool deck to join the resort’s nativity team for pool games and activities. Between 5.30pm and 7.30pm, take another health walk to a fishing site. You will be served to a Mongolian-themed dinner at citadel restaurant, for the earlier mentioned price. On Easter Sunday, wake up at 6.30am and have breakfast at Citadel. There will be an Easter Church service at Ngamba Hall between 10am and midday, and between 12.30pm and 4pm, a family Easter lunch buffet will be served at for Shs120, 000 per adult and Shs80,000 per child between five and 14 years. Plus much more until Easter Monday.

Nile at The HavenYou can choose to enjoy Easter by the sidewalks of River Nile in Jinja town. The option is The Haven which is located within the rural setting of the adventure capital of Uganda. You will walk or drive through gardens and a village to get to the beautiful facility that looks into the mighty Nile.You can rest on a hammock or sit by the veranda and look into the Nile. There are four different kinds of accommodation and nine bandas or bungalows. If you are into a camping experience, you will part with $150(505,000)per person.But this is minus meals. You can pay full board of $50 (Shs168,000) for what is described as lazy camping. It includes meals. There are single rooms for US$75, full board. You can pay US$130(Shs436,800)for twin or double room, full board.Luxury bandas at $230 for twin or double rooms, full board. There are more luxurious single occupancy rooms at $140 (Shs 480,000), full board. Luxury bungalows are available at $250(Shs840,000) for twin or double occupancy, full board. If you are giving your family a treat, then you might want to book them into family bungalows at US$250 for doubles, full board, and part with US$40 per child. Drinks are not included, except breakfast on full board.

Ngamba Island Chimpanzee SanctuaryOne of Uganda’s most fascinating destinations on Lake Victoria, Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary, has an Easter holiday offer where, on top of enjoying viewing the chimpanzees during their playtime and interaction with one another, you get to feed them. There will be special excursions such as fishing on Lake Victoria, kayaking, take nature walks, sunset boat cruises, watch birds and other wildlife and in the evening partake in cultural performances by the bonfire. If not for all this, there is a soothing massage session or one can go out to play volleyball.

You will part with Shs130,000, which will include taking a speedboat, entrance to the island, guided tour and lunch. You can make booking in groups of 10. If you are staying overnight, you will part with Shs300, 000 which will entitle you to an experience on a speedboat, a guide tour throughout the island, meals and accommodation. You can book in groups of four. There are different types of boats catering to various groups and budgets. Speedboat from the dock in Entebbe to Ngamba Island is approximately 45-50 minutes; travel by traditional motorised canoe takes approximately 90 minutes to two hours.

Noah’s Ark Resort-Sipi FallsNoah’s Ark Resort- Sipi Falls is offering at 20 per cent offer. You can visit the resort in Kapchorwa to experience the Sipi Falls, take a dive from the falls and also enjoy a tour around the town. You will part with Shs120, 000 for full board services that include all meals; breakfast, lunch and dinner. The rooms are self-contained. There is a stand-by van that will transport you to different parts of the town.